Gay Men Say Texas Bar Kicked Them Out for Dancing to Country Music

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is supporting a gay couple after the men said they were kicked out of a South Texas nightclub for dancing together to country music.

The incident occurred Saturday night at a Victoria nightclub when Justin Meyer, 21, said he and his partner danced together to the country song "Cowboys and Angels," the Victoria Advocate reported.

The men said a manager approached them and told them Cactus Canyon had a policy barring two men from dancing together to country music.

Meyer's partner, James Douglas, 30, said the manager told them they could dance together to rap or hip-hop music, but not country.

"So you're telling me it's OK for me to bump and grind my boyfriend to the song 'Bubble Butt,' but we can't dance a two-step?" Douglas told the newspaper.

But Cactus Canyon's director of operations, Robert Dillender, said the men were asked to leave because they were being disruptive.

"We've never kicked anyone out of the club for dancing," he said, adding the club does not have a policy barring same-sex couples from dancing together.

However, Dillender said the club does have to "maintain the peace" under its obligation to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the agency that issues liquor licenses. Cactus Canyon is now reviewing how it interprets that policy, he said.

"We apologize for the misunderstanding," Dillender added.

The issue has already caught the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union in Texas, and the group plans to reach out to the couple to offer assistance.

"We encourage all people to stand up for their individual rights," said Tom Hargis, an ACLU spokesman.